Jenkins ready to be a good soldier even though he’s unsure of role

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Mike Jenkins let it be known Wednesday that his shoulder and psyche are doing just fine.

The fifth-year pro is expected to make his season debut Sunday at Seattle after February surgery on his right shoulder sidelined him throughout the offseason, the preseason and last week’s 24-17 season-opening win over the New York Giants.

Although unsure of how much he will play or what his role will be in Rob Ryan’s revamped defense, Jenkins said he’s resentment free even though his response to losing his starting job reportedly was to have his agent ask for a trade.

“Honestly, I don’t want to even talk about what happened,” Jenkins, a Pro Bowler in 2009, told reporters in Irving.

“I just want to move on, move on past it. There’s no bitterness, there’s no nothing. It is what it is. The only thing I can try to do right now for myself and the team is try to help out. So whatever that role is, whatever they have planned, that’s just the way it’s going to have to go.

“If it’s anything else, both sides are going to have to bite the bullet because feuding ain’t going to do nothing for none of us.”

Jenkins, 27, is in an unfamiliar reserve role after the Cowboys signed free agent Brandon Carr in March and drafted former LSU star Morris Claiborne sixth overall in April.

In the wake of those headline-grabbing moves, Jenkins remained home in Florida rather than fulfill the team’s request to rehab his shoulder at Valley Ranch. Then reports surfaced that his agent, Drew Rosenhause, had asked for a trade.

The Cowboys responded by taking the high road and insisting they still very much wanted Jenkins, who had full participation in practice Wednesday.

“He’s a good football player,” coach Jason Garrett said. “He can cover, and if you are a corner in this league and you can cover, there is a spot for you.”

Asked if he’s been 100 percent committed to helping the team since his demotion, Jenkins said, “Yeah. I do everything I need to do. On time, no arguing, no fussing…no nothing…I’m happy.”

Jenkins said after practice his shoulder held up well.

“I’ll definitely be back on the field,” Jenkins said. “How? When? I don’t know yet. I can’t get that answer. I don’t have any communication with the coaches to know what they want to do… Whatever they tell me they want me to do, that’s what I’m going to do.”

Given that he’s in the final year of his contract, Jenkins has a lot at stake this season. But he said showing the Cowboys and other teams he’s worthy of a long-term deal isn’t part of his agenda.

“That’s not my problem,” he said. “My job is to come out here every day and do what I have to do and continue to do that no matter what. They have their plans no matter what I do. Concerned is not going to do nothing for me or them.”